Product Description
by Melanie Furlong-Riesgo (Author)
It is 1988 and Rafael viles, an engineer at the Cuban Mint in Havana, is a young, earnest Communist Party member living with his ambitious wife, Elena. When Rafael is drafted to the war in Angola, just as he is about to become a father, he takes a risk to escape the military-convinced he is doing what's best for his country. As Communist countries around the world begin to see change, Cuba enters its dire Special Period and Rafael's family does what it can to survive. Rafael becomes disenchanted at work and, after a disastrous meeting with Fidel Castro, questions his Party ideals. Finally, he's convinced to do everything in his power to leave the island and improve his family's future. This is at once a love story-for family and country-as well as a portrait of Havana during this tumultuous time.
Author Biography
Melanie Furlong-Riesgo was born in 1971 and grew up in Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Ontario, Canada. After graduating from Acadia University with a major in Spanish, she completed a B.Ed T.E.S.L. at Brock University. She taught English in the Czech Republic for three years and met her Cuban-born husband there. They now live in Nova Scotia with their two beautiful children. Melanie has been writing for various publications since 2001. The Last Honest Man in Havana is her first novel.
